Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Malawi
Malawi: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin was 1,779 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Malawi, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
In 2025, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Malawi stood at 1,779.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 36.1% on the previous year and down 68.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Malawi peaked at 8,206 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5, in 2000.
Malawi ranks 98th of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 | — |
| 2001 | 12 | +140.0% |
| 2002 | 147 | +1125.0% |
| 2003 | 1,450 | +886.4% |
| 2004 | 2,937 | +102.6% |
| 2005 | 3,846 | +30.9% |
| 2006 | 43 | -98.9% |
| 2007 | 8,184 | +18932.6% |
| 2008 | 8,206 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 42 | -99.5% |
| 2010 | 60 | +42.9% |
| 2011 | 2,963 | +4838.3% |
| 2012 | 4,543 | +53.3% |
| 2013 | 4,265 | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 3,891 | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 5,672 | +45.8% |
| 2016 | 3,752 | -33.9% |
| 2017 | 3,154 | -15.9% |
| 2018 | 2,800 | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 2,570 | -8.2% |
| 2020 | 2,168 | -15.6% |
| 2021 | 2,018 | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 1,169 | -42.1% |
| 2023 | 1,656 | +41.7% |
| 2024 | 2,784 | +68.1% |
| 2025 | 1,779 | -36.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,487 | 5 | 8,206 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,367 | 60 | 5,672 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,929 | 1,169 | 2,784 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 95 Kuwait 2,148 compare
- 96 Fiji 2,058 compare
- 97 Costa Rica 1,820 compare
- 99 Turkmenistan 1,663 compare
- 100 Cambodia 1,646 compare
- 101 Timor-Leste 1,520 compare
More social development data for Malawi
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 35,241 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 551 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh 2 (2025)
- Democracy lexical 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate -33.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 551 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0016 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Malawi?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in Malawi was 1,779 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 8,206 in 2008.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 2000.
- How does Malawi rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin?
- Malawi ranks 98th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.